Review and Evaluation of Empirical Research in Troubleshooting
Abstract
This reprint reviews the literature on troubleshooting training, assess the effectiveness of current methods, and established a basis for further research. A literature search focused on data regarding the individual skills needed for successful fault isolation with emphasis on the training issues involved. Four sources were consulted: PSYCHINFO (the online data base from the Psychological Abstracts), the NTIS data base, the personal files of the authors, and personal and professional contacts. Literature that did not specifically involve training issues, including the use of job aids, was not reviewed. About 80 reports and articles relevant to troubleshooting, problem solving with test equipment, problem solving in technical schools and that presented actual performance data were examined. The successful troubleshooter must be able to (1) repair and replace components, (2) conduct tests, and (3) select an appropriate strategy. The last area seems to pose the greater challenge to instructional designers seeking to facilitate transfer of training. The themes arising in the literature with regard to selection of strategies are that (1) humans are not good at judging probabilities, (2) performance degrades as systems become larger and more complex, (3) performance degrades also in the face of time constraints, (4) presentation of theory of operation generally does not improve performance, and (5) proceduralization improves performance. Because recent research does not address the problems of transfer of training, the utility of high-technology troubleshooting training techniques in the real world has not been demonstrated. Keywords: Industrial training; Troubleshooting training; Preventive maintenance training; and Training.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA168660
Entities
People
- Nancy M. Morris
- William B. Rouse
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research